More Mushrooms, More Cream

Jason posted a recipe a while back, then I posted a variation of it. Now, I'm back to tell you a little secret about this awesome bowtie pasta based on Jason's original recipe - You'll want it over and over again.

Bowtie pasta cooked according to instructions.

1 mediumPortobella mushroom, chopped
3/4 Cup white wine
3/4 Cup whipping cream
4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
2 tbsp butter
Olive oil

Add butter to hot pan and melt. Add mushroom and saute for about 2 minutes. Add a bit of olive oil, then add the garlic (lots of it...all of it...more if you like). Fry mushrooms and garlic for another minute or so, until garlic turns just brown - DO NOT BURN THE GARLIC. Then, add a good amount of fresh cracked pepper. Don't be shy. By now, this pan should be smelling good!

Add white wine and stir, scraping up bits. Do this for about one minute, then add cream. Let this mixture stir on high for about a minute, then reduce heat. Stir regularly for about 20 - 25 minutes until reduced. Add some more cracked pepper right at the end, with a bit of sea salt.

Put the bowtie pasta on two plates, pour enough sauce to cover well. You'll notice the sweet and earthy mushroom taste, surrounded by a not-too-overwhelming garlic. The pepper adds the necessary spice to finish it off. Top with toasted pine nuts and garnish with fresh parsley or basil.

~ Brock

Light Pasta Great For Lunch

Need a quick meal? That's one good thing about so many pasta dishes...they're quick, easy and good. Here's one:

Enough capellini for two (cook according to instructions - set aside in two bowls)

shrimp (boil 2 minutes and set aside)
pine nuts (about two tbsp. dry pan fry for about 1-2 minutes - don't burn)
1 roma tomatoe, finely diced
a few pieces of fire roasted peppers (I used a jar from Trader Joes)
A few pieces of artichoke heart (I used some from a bag you buy at Trader Joes...they're frozen. Thaw them by dropping them in your pasta water - before you add the pasta - and removing them with a slotted spoon)
Olive oil

Heat olive oil, then add tomatoes. Cook 1 minute, then add peppers and artichoke hearts. Add generous amounts of fresh cracked pepper and salt. Cook together 1-2 minutes. Have pasta waiting in bowls and top with mixture, add shrimp and pine nuts to top.

This is a very earthy taste and not spice dependent.

~ Brock

Spyware Publishers Get Kicked In The...

Spyware sucks. That goes without saying. And the law is a bit too slow in fighting it well enough. But, a court in Chicago just set the stage for a showdown that might lead to a flood of litigation that will actually accomplish something.

In Sotelo v. DirectRevenue, the plaintiff filed suit against a number of defendants claiming trespass to chattels (among other things) for spyware that was placed on the plaintiff's computer without permission and which depleted and interfered with the computer's resources and bandwith. The claim of trespass to chattels relates to the interference with personal property (i.e., parking your neighbor's tractor in your garage and locking it in might constitute a trespass to chattel).

The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit prior to trial. The court sustained the motion (disagreed with it), stating that although trespass to chattels historically involved the taking of personal property, "interference" with another's personal property could be sufficient.

Now understand that the plaintiff hasn't won the case; this was just a pre-trial motion to have the case dismissed. What it does create, though, is the reality that the court will probably find the defendants liable for trespass at trial. And, if this court finds the defendants liable, other courts will naturally follow. If they do, a new claim against spyware publishers will be born. If the courts disagree, the supreme court may take up the disagreement (in a few years, of course) and resolve it.

This is another case to follow that impacts all computer users.

~ Brock

Don't Miss This Show

Many friends will be playing this night. Be there or be a rhombus.

Afterfall (or whatever name they're going by) Take Me There (Click Here)

Gadget Car Pan Dulce (Click Here)

LTA

See you there!

LINK

Jason

Nice Rebuttal to Typical New World Bashing

Tom Wark of Fermentations has a great article about the criticisms wine makers and grape growers from places like California receive from many Europeans. Make sure to link over to the article by Jancis Robinson.

This problem goes far beyond the wine world. Being an American, I often find that I can’t win when it comes to dealing with some Europeans. It is sad that when someone does something better than them, they must slip into vicious, baseless attacks.

LINK

Jason

Open 24/7

Yeah, I'm talking about my mind. I have an open mind. That's why I wasted my money and went to eat dinner at Olive Garden tonight. I know, I know. Don't get me started. I just got done bagging on the place, then I go eat there. Well, that's the way I work.

Dinner for two. Pasta overcooked. Sauce had too much salt. Salad might as well be soup (although the salad is the reason I went). Breadsticks might as well be cardboardsticks. Broken water glass. Not-the-sharpest-tool...waitress. Waited 15 minutes to get seated when the restaurant was half empty. Total bill: $17.58. Total waste.

I should have followed my own advice and bought a bag of salad, a bag of pasta, a can of sauce and a loaf of garlic bread. Total cost: $7.00. What was I thinking?

~ Brock

Japanese Seafood Dinner

Why does everyone settle for crap food, night after night. And then, "oh, I made this great dinner. I bought a can of sauce, a bag of pasta, some pre-made garlic bread, a bag of salad, and a bottle of two-buck chuck. Awesome!" Where is your brain? That meal is an excuse for someone that has no creativity or idea what a good meal is. It reminds me of a girl on an old run of The Bachelor with Andrew Firestone. He asked her what her favorite restaurant was. Her answer, "Olive Garden." Holy Crap! What is this world coming to?

Anyway, forget the pasta tonight. This one is easy and better than anything you could order at Olive Garden.

Teriyaki Salmon

2 Salmon filets (at least 1" thick each)
1/4 cup Japanese soy sauce
1/3 cup sake
1 tsp sugar

Marinate salmon filets for at least 1 hour. Bring out to countertop prior to cooking (leave in marinade) for at least 20 minutes. Broil until cooked - about 12 minutes.

Crab

You can buy a nice sized previously cooked crab for this meal, or you can boil your own.

Edamame

Follow instructions on bag. You can pick up a bag of these at Trader Joe's or most other Asian markets.

Dipping Sauces

Spicy Soy Dip - 1tbsp chopped garlic, 1/2 thinly sliced jalapeno chile, 2 pinches of fresh cut green onion, 1/3 cup soy sauce.

Horseradish-Soy Dip - 1tsp horseradish, 1/3 cup soy sauce.

Vinegar-Ginger-Soy Dip - 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1tbsp fresh grated ginger.

Teriyaki Dip - Drain pan from teriyaki salmon, add 1tbsp chopped green onions.

Easy and damn good. Why make pasta every night when you can have variety.

Enjoy!

~ Brock

Political Stupidity

Is the point of politics to force everyone around you to take your view? Me, I don't push my political views on anyone. In fact, I could care less if someone shares my political views. I rarely mention politics in conversation, and avoid the topic as much as possible when it comes up. Why? Because I don't give a crap what you think about politics and I doubt you really care what I think, either.

Here are a few annoying examples:

1. I haven't voted on a local, state or federal level for at least 10 years. Why? It's none of your damn business. But, to all of you freaks that push your liberal, freedom-fighting, whatever- you-call-it political views on me, here is my response: why is it that you push everyone to "fight for your rights," but when it comes to me not voting, "oh, that's not a right, it's a responsibility." Why do I have to exercise my right or responsibility when you tell me to? I don't. That's the point of having a right.

2. Why does everyone act like they have the inside track on political motivations? Like with hurricane Katrina, "oh, it's Bush's fault." Or, "oh, the state government knew it was going to happen but did nothing." Or, the best yet, "oh, actually, 'they' knew the city would flood years ago, but they didn't tell anyone." Like you know anything. Just because you listen to NPR or read US News, or whatever your "cool" source of "inside" news is, you only know what they tell you to know. You don't have the inside track to anything other than your radio or news stand (along with the millions of other robots just like you).

3. And, last, but not least, why is it that Christian politics involve so much hate, judgment, condemnation, hypocrisy and self-righteousness? Now, before you jump on the bandwagon (or stand in offense) know this - I am a Christian and have been nearly all my life. I believe in Jesus. I believe every word of the bible. But, what does that have to do with it? I'm not taking up the cause against Christianity or Christian politics, and I'm not saying that just because someone is a Christian, all of their political views and methods are correct. I'm simply pointing out a fact. The world believes Christians are hateful, judgmental, condemning, hypocritical, and self-righteous. Sometimes Christian politics send that message. That's all.

Just some late evening ramblings.

~ Brock